Chittenden County manufacturers will gather this week to talk about the challenges of finding qualified workers.
One participant in the Vermont Manufacturers Summit believes part of the solution lies in getting the message out about the kinds of jobs manufacturers offer.
Tammy Buschell is Human Resources Manager at the Edlund Company in Burlington, which makes commercial kitchen appliances.
If you think a job there requires a post-secondary education and a strong computer and engineering background, you might be surprised that only entry-level skills are needed to get the job.
“They need to have at least basic computer skills, basic math and basic English; read write, understand basic easy to understand drawings,” says Bushell.
Add an ability to show up on time and communicate with fellow employees, and you’ve got an ideal candidate according to Bushell. The company will provide the technical training.
She says manufacturers need to convince prospective employees that their jobs aren’t about mindless assembly line work in a dirty, noisy environment.
She’ll join other Burlington area manufacturers for the summit Wednesday in Burlington, sponsored by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.
